Aimee Lopez | Science & Technology Sphere
As a Civil engineer & international project manager, and the founder of the non-profit, Heart-to-Heart Teens, Aimee Lopez has worked in Construction and Development over 20 years. A civil engineer graduate with an emphasis in Construction Management from the University of South California. Also certified from USC's Real Estate Planning and Development. Lopez's background includes program and construction management for data centers, school campuses, biotech, hospitals, and TI on Global and local projects. Aimee Lopez leads with integrity, clarity and transparency. Recognized in her community and by clients for her leadership, mentoring and client support. Currently managing programs for Global Data Centers globally in MEP upgrades and construction. Aimee is also very active in her community by providing mentoring programs to at-risk teens and families. She founded a local non-profit serving families in leadership development, mentoring and life-skills. Recipient of the NFL 49ers Community Award for making a difference in her community. Aimee's passion is to not only build buildings but also build lives!
Simon Bull | Arts & Entertainment Sphere
Simon Bull is a British-born artist now residing in California, with over 1.5 million followers across social media who are captivated by his vibrant and expressive artwork. His paintings are rooted in a deep understanding of the flows and rhythms of the natural world, often using techniques that mirror organic systems. Through bold color, layered texture, and unexpected movement, Simon creates pieces that both soothe and surprise, delighting audiences around the world with his signature blend of energy and emotion.
He has served as the official artist for the 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C., boxing legend Muhammad Ali, and the 2002 Winter Olympics. His accolades include the Artist Print Award for the top-selling printmaker in the United Kingdom, two consecutive National Association of Limited Edition Dealers Print of the Year Awards in the U.S., and their prestigious Medal of Honor for his contributions to the art industry. A devoted husband to Joanna for over forty years, Simon is also a father of four, grandfather of six, and a cancer survivor who remains profoundly grateful to God for each day of life and inspiration.
Alfred Koala | Education Sphere
Alfred graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting Information Systems from California State University, Chico followed by an Executive MBA from California State University, Sacramento. He funded Feeding Nations Through Education (FNTE), which equips and trains African villagers in sustainable agriculture and education. Through FNTE, thousands now produce their own food with surplus, and over a thousand children now have access to education.
Alfred’s mission is helping people help themselves and he acts on it with practical steps that redress social and economic problems related to poverty, famine and the lack of clean water. In addition to his leadership at FNTE, Alfred also works as an IT Manager managing software engineers for VSP Vision in California where he resides with his wife and their three children. Although English is his third language, Alfred is an amazing speaker who brings inspiration to his audience. He speaks to thousands of people from small groups, fundraising events, to schools and churches in California and in Burkina Faso. He has earned several awards and honors, including the CSU Chico President’s Advisory Board Award, the City of Chico Mayor’s Award, and VSP Global’s People First Award.
Samson Wasao | Government Sphere
Samson Wasao was born in Kenya. He and his wife Patricia have three adult girls. Samson gave his life to Christ as a teenager in high school. He has a BA (Economics) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, MS (Agricultural Economics) from Ohio State University and PhD (Rural Sociology) from Ohio State University. He also holds a diploma in Environmental Management from Galilee College, Isarel, and a Diploma in Climate Change and Development, from the University of East Anglia, UK.
After graduating from the University of Nairobi, Samson worked for the Government of Kenya for 16 years in the Ministry of Planning and National Development as a Planning Officer seconded to the Planning Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. He worked with various line ministries, local and international donors in the implementation and appraisal of programs in livestock development, especially in the dairy sector.
He was the first PhD research fellow at the African Population and Health Research Center when the Population Council established it in Nairobi in 1996. This institution is now one of the top centers for research on health, population, and development in Africa. Samson has also served as a manager and Advisor for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to the Government of Kenya for fifteen years, focusing on integrating participatory development and environmental sustainability across government departments with the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development, and Vision 2030. During this time, he was part of the team of advisors that created the successful development blueprint for Kenya-the Vision 2030. He initiated or co-founded at least two local NGOs that supported capacity-building in public service, such as the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), now based in Malawi, where he was the programs director for five years. He also co-founded LOG Associates- a successful consultancy firm for economists, engineers, and planners based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Samson and his wife, Patricia, played key leadership roles in developing and mentoring young pastors and other church leaders, as well as pioneered development of the foundational guidelines, structures, and policies for Christ-is-the-Answer Ministries (CITAM), the largest local church in Kenya today. Together, they also designed and developed various training tools for leaders in premarital counselling, for married couples, and for children’s ministry in the church.
Samsons' hobbies are reading, travelling, listening to music, and home gardening. He is currently the National Training Manager with International Friendships Inc., based in Columbus, Ohio, where he has been serving since 2015.
Samson Wasao was born in Kenya. He and his wife Patricia have three adult girls. Samson gave his life to Christ as a teenager in high school. He has a BA (Economics) from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, MS (Agricultural Economics) from Ohio State University and PhD (Rural Sociology) from Ohio State University. He also holds a diploma in Environmental Management from Galilee College, Isarel, and a Diploma in Climate Change and Development, from the University of East Anglia, UK.
After graduating from the University of Nairobi, Samson worked for the Government of Kenya for 16 years in the Ministry of Planning and National Development as a Planning Officer seconded to the Planning Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. He worked with various line ministries, local and international donors in the implementation and appraisal of programs in livestock development, especially in the dairy sector.
He was the first PhD research fellow at the African Population and Health Research Center when the Population Council established it in Nairobi in 1996. This institution is now one of the top centers for research on health, population, and development in Africa. Samson has also served as a manager and Advisor for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to the Government of Kenya for fifteen years, focusing on integrating participatory development and environmental sustainability across government departments with the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development, and Vision 2030. During this time, he was part of the team of advisors that created the successful development blueprint for Kenya-the Vision 2030. He initiated or co-founded at least two local NGOs that supported capacity-building in public service, such as the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), now based in Malawi, where he was the programs director for five years. He also co-founded LOG Associates- a successful consultancy firm for economists, engineers, and planners based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Samson and his wife, Patricia, played key leadership roles in developing and mentoring young pastors and other church leaders, as well as pioneered development of the foundational guidelines, structures, and policies for Christ-is-the-Answer Ministries (CITAM), the largest local church in Kenya today. Together, they also designed and developed various training tools for leaders in premarital counselling, for married couples, and for children’s ministry in the church.
Samsons' hobbies are reading, travelling, listening to music, and home gardening. He is currently the National Training Manager with International Friendships Inc., based in Columbus, Ohio, where he has been serving since 2015.
Qinling Burke | Family Sphere
She grew up in China as an atheist and came to the United States in 2012 as an exchange student and became a believer in Jesus right away. She received her bachelor’s degree in food science from Kansas State University. Then she felt the Lord's call to study Marriage and Family Therapy and received a full scholarship to study at Denver Seminary. Now she is married to Cullen, a pastor at a local church. Now She works part-time with international student at CU boulder in Colorado. They recently had their first daughter Truly in March. She has a passion to share the gospel to all nations and tongues and recently has learned to bake sourdough bread.
Lisa Espineli Chinn | Wrapping up the Spheres & Shepherding Returnees Track
Lisa Espineli Chinn is originally from the Philippines and first came to the US as a graduate international student at Wheaton College, Illinois (MA in Communications). She served for 14 years as the National Director of International Student Ministry (ISM) of InterVarsity/USA (2000-2014) where she integrated her rich and varied experiences as an international sojourner, as a a campus staff worker with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship-Philippines and InterVarsity/USA, a certified cross-cultural trainer, Bible teacher, a pioneer of several ministries in the Philippines and the USA, an author, and speaker at various college events and conferences, including Urbana’03 and Urbana’06 (InterVarsity USA’s Missions conference). Under her leadership, the ISM department grew in its outreach among internationals and attracted young and talented staff on her team. She also introduced new initiatives which included the International Students Track at the Urbana Student Missions Conference. She is a pioneer and thought leader in international student reentry and has authored various reentry publications and resources which include a new and expanded version of Think Home, a reentry guide for Christian international students, Back Home, a devotional guide for those who have lived and studied abroad, and Coming to America/Returning Home to Your Country. She also developed the only reentry simulation game, Customs and Culture. She has done numerous Cross-Cultural Transition seminars for international students and short-term missions in the US and overseas.
Lisa, together with her husband, Leiton, founded T.I.P.S.– Truro International Programs and Services, the 40– year old international outreach of Truro Anglican Church in Fairfax, Va. She also helped other churches start their international student work in the greater DC area. Lisa was an “unintentional” church planter, having started a church from her neighborhood Bible study group.
Richard Mendola | Mentorship Track
Richard Mendola is the Global Ambassador of International Friendships, Inc. (IFI), a ministry to international students, headquartered in the USA with ministries in many cities and in 4 countries. He has been serving full time among internationals since 1980. Prior to serving as the Global Ambassador, he served 25 years as the CEO of IFI.
He is an author, evangelist, and church planter. He is a frequent speaker on missions and challenges churches to serve and build relationships with diaspora people. He has lived out a lifestyle of evangelism and disciple making and has seen many internationals become disciple makers/church planters. He is married to Janet. They have 6 children and 9 grandchildren.
Richard Mendola is the Global Ambassador of International Friendships, Inc. (IFI), a ministry to international students, headquartered in the USA with ministries in many cities and in 4 countries. He has been serving full time among internationals since 1980. Prior to serving as the Global Ambassador, he served 25 years as the CEO of IFI.
He is an author, evangelist, and church planter. He is a frequent speaker on missions and challenges churches to serve and build relationships with diaspora people. He has lived out a lifestyle of evangelism and disciple making and has seen many internationals become disciple makers/church planters. He is married to Janet. They have 6 children and 9 grandchildren.
Sandeep Thomas | Discipleship Track
Sandeep Thomas was born in Mumbai, India into a devout Christian community whose roots trace back to the early church founded in Kerala, India by Apostle Thomas in 52 AD. His own faith journey was a progression from teenage doubt, to exploring the various religions of India, to coming to the realization that God had uniquely revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.
Sandeep’s career spans both the marketplace and ministry worlds. He did his undergrad in Electrical Engineer. His life in the US took many unexpected turns with a string of challenges and powerful encounters with Christ. These life altering experiences of Christ’s love led him to a calling to full time ministry in 2002. For 15 years, Sandeep has been a Pastor and a missionary training others in sharing the Gospel with South Asians. He has been with ISI since 2013. He is currently pursuing a second Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy as God has been expanding his calling into new spheres of influence.
Since his journey in ministry, the question topmost in his mind has been, what does it mean to obey Christ? He has come to see “making reproducing disciples” as Christ’s central ask of His followers. Sandeep is married to Sonia and has one adult child Ahia, who is a nurse and a son Andrew who is 17.
Kirk & Linda Frambes | Next Gen ISM Track
Kirk and Linda Frambes have been with International Students, Inc (ISI) since 2013. Kirk & Linda have served with ISI in Seattle, WA, Winston-Salem, NC, and Central Texas at multiple universities including the University of Washington, UW Bothel, Wake Forest University, and Baylor University as City/Area Director, Campus Staff, City Mobilizer and Area Mobilizer. Prior to ISI, Kirk was the Area Director for Search Ministries in San Antonio, TX focusing on apologetics, evangelism, and discipleship. Linda and Kirk were church planters in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico with Crossworld as well as the Western Canadian Director with Crossworld in Didsbury, Alberta, Canada. They love Jesus and desire people to know Him; they pray, build relationships, love, listen, serve, share the best news ever, respond to objections and train.
Kirk and Linda Frambes have been with International Students, Inc (ISI) since 2013. Kirk & Linda have served with ISI in Seattle, WA, Winston-Salem, NC, and Central Texas at multiple universities including the University of Washington, UW Bothel, Wake Forest University, and Baylor University as City/Area Director, Campus Staff, City Mobilizer and Area Mobilizer. Prior to ISI, Kirk was the Area Director for Search Ministries in San Antonio, TX focusing on apologetics, evangelism, and discipleship. Linda and Kirk were church planters in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico with Crossworld as well as the Western Canadian Director with Crossworld in Didsbury, Alberta, Canada. They love Jesus and desire people to know Him; they pray, build relationships, love, listen, serve, share the best news ever, respond to objections and train.
Mike Krajnak | Discepliship Track
Mike Krajnak has been the ISEED Internship Coordinator for IFI since 2018. He has discipled over 40 students during the last 7 years and helped them discover their next steps. He and his wife Tish have hosted over 100 students in their home; many of his disciples have lived with him.
Mike has a Computer Engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University and has taught leadership classes for many years. Mike came to faith in Christ through a campus worker at college in 1978. After taking the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course in 2014, he attended the 2015 Urbana missions conference and heard God tell him to retire early from his 37-year computer consultant career and start training international students. Mike is blessed to have a special needs son and an adopted daughter from China.
Mike Cutler | Kingdom Entrepreneurship Track
Mike Cutler has started multiple businesses and non-profit organizations. Industries include real estate investment, property maintenance, landscaping, event planning, construction, e-commerce, and digital marketing. He currently directs the Reno International House, which is an organization that assists immigrants, international students, and refugees in his city.
Mike also teaches Entrepreneurship at the University of Nevada, Reno. Mike lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada, and enjoys leadership involvement with their church along with outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
Mike Cutler has started multiple businesses and non-profit organizations. Industries include real estate investment, property maintenance, landscaping, event planning, construction, e-commerce, and digital marketing. He currently directs the Reno International House, which is an organization that assists immigrants, international students, and refugees in his city.
Mike also teaches Entrepreneurship at the University of Nevada, Reno. Mike lives with his wife and three children in Reno, Nevada, and enjoys leadership involvement with their church along with outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
Segun Adeyemo | Establishing a Christian Community Track
Segun Adeyemo is a passionate and dedicated Christian who has served the Christian communities and the larger society within and outside Africa for over 20 years. Over the years, he has developed deep love and passion for God and has used his extensive ministerial, secular education, and work experience for the growth of the global church community. He currently serves as a Church planter in the Dakotas and also as Evangelism Catalyst for the Dakota Baptist Convention. In that role, he oversees the Evangelistic activities of the Dakota Baptist Convention, supporting a network of 85 churches across the South and North Dakota. Prior to this, he managed TELL Africa, an African-wide Evangelism Mission project, based in Pretoria, South Africa. Also, between 1999 and 2007, he worked at a UK, based Christian charity with offices in Nigeria and across West Africa, where he rose rapidly, becoming the West Africa Regional Manager. Over the years, he has also planted churches in Africa and the US and has spoken and delivered lectures at seminars, churches and conferences across Africa and in the US.
Segun has worked in Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and the US, and also has extensive international and cross-cultural professional and work experiences in NPO/NGO management, Financial Services, Financial Product Development and Management, Business Development, and Project Management. Being a CAF/SAFA licensed soccer coach as a professional hobby has also prepared him for holistic leadership development and life skills to lead, nurture, relate, and coach people at individual and at team/group levels for optimum performance and self-leadership. His educational background in International Relations and Diplomacy has also broadened his knowledge of social political environments, cultural synergy and adaptation, and also equipped him with the necessary policy analytical tools needed to discuss and contribute to complex social issues.
Nate Mirza | Mentors Life Group Facilitator
Nate Mirza grew up in Iran’s Assyrian Christian community and was educated in India before coming to California in 1955. As a freshman at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and served with The Navigators in India, Lebanon and Iran for 15 years. Since 1977 he has served among international students in Wisconsin and Colorado and trained people in international student ministry. He is a graduate of the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, Lebanon, and one of the founders of the Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals (ACMI).
As a result of visiting international graduates who went back to their countries, he wrote Home Again: Preparing International Students to Serve Christ in their Home Countries. In 2021 he retired from The Navigators as an organization, but not from his calling as an ambassador of Christ. He is happy to have been on the mentor training staff of the World Changer’s Conference for the last three years. He continues to mentor international students and is currently working on producing evangelistic episodes for social media in Lebanon. These are based on his book, Yearning for Peace. Nate and his wife Carol live in Sandpoint, Idaho. Their children and grandchildren live in Colorado, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho.